KALAMAZOO — People’s excitement for hot, caffeinated treats seems to rise every time the temperature begins to drop.

And the folks at Water Street Coffee Joint are every bit as passionate about coffee as the people who consume it.

What’s more, beyond that simple passion, the local cafe, with locations downtown and on Oakland Drive, has a knack for creating
body-warming concoctions and unveiling them at just the right time of year.

Spiced chai, peppermint lattes and hot black teas are always a favorite during the snowy season, but one menu item seems to
sing to those in need of real inner warmth.

“We have a Sleeping Bear hot chocolate or a
Sleeping Bear mocha. It’s a specialty beverage that we’ve served for a
few years.
We take dark chocolate, actually grind the chocolate down, we
spice it with cinnamon, and then we’re melting it into the milk
so that it’s very rich, very indulgent,” Liz Comrie, Water Street
Coffee Joint general manager, said.

Another steamy offering called Cocoa Del Sol is a modern take on a traditional South American drink.

“We use the dark-chocolate shavings, but instead of spicing it with cinnamon, we use cayenne pepper; some people call it a
Mexican Hot Chocolate,” Comrie said.

Aroma Borealis, brewed from October until February using a combination of South American and Indonesian coffee beans, is the
company’s best-selling wintertime brew.

Traditional coffee drinkers may be intrigued by a new event Water Street calls its “slow bar.”

Offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Oakland Drive location, the bar is hosted by brew master Ben
Angelo. It will feature special varietals and slow, single-cup brewing methods to ensure freshness and quality.

“There will be a coffee menu so you will have your choice of coffees and a brewing menu where you will have your choice of
brewing methods,” Comrie said. “The idea behind slow bar is that it is very experiential.”

Those who are out and about this winter might find a few extra warming calories beneficial. With that in mind, Water Street also offers a large selection of holiday offerings such as pies, cookies and other sweet treats.
All of them are created in-house and pair well with any hot, caffeinated (or not) winter brew.